Friday, March 30, 2018

Sage Turns 13, and the Girls Will Take It From Here

Sage is 13! When I started documenting her first hikes, she was only 3 years old. It's been ten years of hiking...wow. What a great life we've had; I have ten years filled with great memories hiking with my kids up the wild mountains of New Hampshire and on beautiful trails around the country and in different parts of the world. I am a fortunate woman.

Alex and Sage in August 2009, the day Alex finished her first round of the NH4Ks at 6 years old (on Moosilauke),
and just before Sage started hiking 4Ks
(she is 4 years old in the photo and was partially carried up on the day this photo was taken).

The girls on Moosilauke last December (2017). They each now have accomplished hundreds of NH4K ascents,
close to two hundred non4K peaks (NH and across the country), 46 state highpoints, and a handful of thru-hikes
(John Muir Trail, Cohos Trail, Camino de Santiago, and the Laugavegur Trek). They are also responsible for the creation of the Terrifying 25 list, which they both now fully manage (and they moderate the Facebook page),
and, last year, they began the GraniteGals podcast.
A lot can happen in ten years!

When I first started documenting our hikes, the girls were of course not old enough to have blogs or their own online presences. There is a minimum age of 13 in our house for participating directly in/with social media. When Alex turned 13, she was allowed to start her own blog so she could be the one keeping track of her own hiking -- that blog is Alex in the White Mountains. She's been documenting her hiking (and Sage's) since January 2016. Now that Sage is 13, she too has her own blog in which she documents her own hiking (and Alex's). That blog is Sage's White Mountain Treks. From here on out, the girls will take turns writing the trip reports for their hikes...except, of course, when each hikes solo, and then that particular solo hiker will write her own trip report of her experiences.

This blog will continue to exist mainly as a way of keeping track of the Grid peaks, and as a way of having a published record of all the girls' hikes dating back to 2008.

Another transition is public speeches -- Alex joined me on our talks earlier this year at the AMC (Sage was supposed to as well, but she caught pneumonia and was out of commission for most of February). Now that they are teenagers, it is appropriate both Alex and Sage speak for themselves about their childhood adventures. I have been the spokesperson for years, but now they are the appropriate ages to have their own public voices.

Thanks to everyone who has followed us over the years, and thanks to those who read UP and then kept track of all our subsequent journeys. We have always appreciated your support, and I am glad we have had an influence on some parents who want to facilitate their children's love of the outdoors.

7 comments:

Congratulations to you and your accomplished daughters! It was been great to follow along and see all of your adventures. I want to keep hearing your voice too, so I am glad you are going to keep this blog going as well as the other exciting things your family is involved with.

As far as my voice goes -- I appreciate your comment, I just feel that if all three of us talk about the same hikes then that will get redundant. I'll speak up again after the kids go to college, when I start hiking the country solo. :)

I agree with Marcy that it would be nice to hear from you periodically, too. Your girls are amazing, and I enjoy reading both Sage's and Alex's trip reports, but I like your stuff, too. I found you through your book, after all. Have any of you written a trip report for your Coast to Coast hike? I didn't see it on the girls blogs and thought maybe you'd take on that one...

Hey! Just read your book & I wanted to say that it really reasonated with me. We spent the first 17 years of our marriage in Colorado so my kids spent HOURS hiking mountains with me They all went out in backpacks before they could even really sit up As soon as they could walk my husband and I let "hike" for a bit. I never told them any hike was "too hard for kids" either, & our homeschooling (at that point) allowed for so many adventures!

Unfortunately 3 years ago we moved to the flat land of Florida I miss the mountains being so close and being able to go appreciate them with my kids now ages 17,12& 11. Anyway, I don't even know if you check this blog much, but I just wanted you to know how much I enjoyed & related to your story.